Parties, celebrations, fancy dinners, or watching the basketball play-offs are all good reasons to indulge in your favorite cocktail. After all, alcohol is synonymous with festivities. But, while having a drink or two is never a terrible thing, the amount usually consumed on these occasions is what can be damaging. Sure, there are a few health benefits of drinking red wine, but most people will find themselves nursing a lot of martinis, Manhattans and everything in between on party night! Binge drinking is never good for you, and we’re not just talking in terms of hangovers. We’re talking about effects binge drinking has on your skin, beauty sleep and waistline…

Drinking should always be practiced in moderation, but that’s rarely the case when it comes to the big celebrations. If you haven’t decided on whether to drink moderately or go all out at your next social gathering or celebration, there are a few things to think about.

The “Ugly” Side of Binge Drinking

Skin Damage

You’ve probably heard of how the sun can damage your skin with its intense UV rays, but did you ever learn about the damage that alcohol can do to your skin?

Not only does drinking too much dehydrate and strip your skin of its natural oils, leaving it dry, cracked and peeling, but it also causes flushing of the cheeks that can lead to permanent damage. More specifically, alcohol causes tiny facial blood vessels called capillaries to dilate and carry more blood to the surface. This pressure can cause the capillaries to burst, leaving permanent damage on your face.

Your face can also suffer a dull, gray pallor which can last for days after your drinking binge. And, as if your face hasn’t had enough at this point, binge drinking can also cause bloodshot eyes. Beautiful faces need a healthy glow, not damaged skin and eyes.

Poor Quality of Sleep

After a long night of drinking, you probably want to get a good night’s rest to rejuvenate yourself for the morning, right? Well it might not do you much good. Going to bed after you’ve been drinking may seem like a smart idea, but the chances of you getting a good night’s rest are slim to none. Although the initial effect of alcohol is to make you drowsy, after a few hours, a neurotransmitter known as norepinephrine is released. This chemical release gives you a jolt of energy that will wake you out of your slumber and disrupt your happy sleep.

Remember that eight hours of interrupted sleep is not the same as the benefits of eight hours of uninterrupted sleep.

Weight Gain

One of the most obvious consequences of binge drinking is rapid weight gain. Alcohol and weight gain are like peanut butter and jelly – you just can’t have one with out the other!

After-all, for every gram of alcohol you drink, there are seven calories hidden there. So for every ounce of alcohol you drink, you’ll be consuming between 100-200 empty calories. And that doesn’t include the soda, juice or other flavorings in your drink that pack on even more empty calories.

If you drink “just a little” (let’s say about three drinks), that’s at least 600 calories, or if you drink heavily (about 5-6 drinks), that’s over 1,000 calories!

On the bright side, a four-ounce glass of red wine has only 100 calories, and is full of beneficial antioxidants. Our advice? Do like the Italians and learn to love red wine. You’ll save hundreds of calories just by switching over.

Severity of Effect

Alcohol affects women more severely than it affects men, but many women are still tempted to try and keep up with their male counterparts. Women simply have smaller frames, more body fat and less ability to process alcohol out of their systems.

These three factors add up when women consume more drinks than they can handle. Not only does the alcohol stay in their system longer, but the effects of binge drinking are increased and the side effects are not pretty – throwing up, fever and lack of conscious control.

Know your limits, and if you’re not sure what your limits are, stick to one type of alcohol (i.e. vodka only instead of mixing vodka, gin and tequila). Make sure you drink slowly, and for every drink you do have, drink a full glass of water to keep you hydrated.

Also, never drink on an empty stomach, which will magnify the binge drinking effects of alcohol on your body.

Parties are good! They’re a time to celebrate and hang out with people you love and enjoy. But the results of binge drinking on your skin, beauty sleep and waistline can be downright ugly after a fun night out.

Drink in moderation and be smart about which types of alcohol you allow yourself to have. The smarter you drink, the more beautiful you'll be - inside and out.

Do You Drink Too Much?

The one or two glasses of wine you drink at the occasional meal when you dine out are no big deal, but what about the standard two glasses of wine you have with every dinner? Could this love of Chardonnay mean that you drink too much? Many people wonder the same thing - whether or not their drinking habits are over the top. Answer these questions honestly to find out if your drinking habits are out of control. Take this drinking quiz.